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42-488: The Hammond circus train wreck occurred on June 22, 1918, and was one of the worst train wrecks in U.S. history. Eighty-six people were reported to have died and another 127 were injured when a locomotive engineer fell asleep and ran his troop train into the rear of a circus train near Hammond , Indiana . The circus train held 400 performers and roustabouts of the Hagenbeck–Wallace Circus . The train used by

84-570: A boiler explosion occurs. Train accidents have often been widely covered in popular media and in folklore . A head-on collision between two trains is colloquially called a " cornfield meet " in the United States. Train accidents can occur due to a range of factors, including one or more of the following: This rail-transport related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Interstate Commerce Commission The Commission's five members were appointed by

126-485: A USDOT number, such as "USDOT 000000." There are private carriers, e.g. Walmart that move their own freight requiring only a USDOT number, and carriers with authority that haul freight for hire that are still required to have a USDOT number and a Motor Carrier (MC) number that replaced the ICC numbers. The ICC served as a model for later regulatory efforts. Unlike, for example, state medical boards (historically administered by

168-526: A lunatic to an institution in Washington, D.C. Boynton's monorail electric light rail system, it was reported, had the potential to revolutionize transportation, superseding then-current train travel. ICC officials said that they had Boynton committed because he was "worrying them to death" in his promotion of the bicycle railroad. Based on his own testimony and that of a Massachusetts congressman, Boynton won release on May 28, 1920, overcoming testimony of

210-510: A section set aside as Showmen's Rest , which had been purchased by the Showmen's League of America only a few months earlier. The section is surrounded by statues of elephants in a symbolic mourning posture. Only five of those buried had been formally identified, so the graves of most of the casualties are marked "Unknown Male" or "Unknown Female." One grave is marked "Smiley", one "Baldy", and another "4 Horse Driver". The more recent graves at

252-673: A trial the jury found itself deadlocked, and a mistrial was declared. Prosecutors declined to re-try the case, and charges were dismissed on June 9, 1920. The train wreck occurred on a Saturday, and its effects caused the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus's show in Hammond and another in Monroe , Wisconsin , on June 24 to be canceled. However, the circus performed on June 25 in Beloit, Wisconsin , with other circuses providing some of

294-491: The Grange Movement , were the dominant force behind the unrest, but Westerners generally — especially those in rural areas — believed that the railroads possessed economic power that they systematically abused. A central issue was rate discrimination between similarly situated customers and communities. Other potent issues included alleged attempts by railroads to obtain influence over city and state governments and

336-607: The President with the consent of the United States Senate . This was the first independent agency (or so-called Fourth Branch ). The ICC was established by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887, which was signed into law by President Grover Cleveland . The creation of the commission was the result of widespread and longstanding anti-railroad agitation. Western farmers, specifically those of

378-499: The flatcars . Sargent's train plowed into the caboose and four rear wooden sleeping cars of the circus train at a rail crossing known as Ivanhoe Interlocking (5 miles (8.0 km) east of downtown Hammond and the Indiana- Illinois border) at an estimated speed of 35 miles per hour (56 km/h). According to a contemporary newspaper report, “The engine and tender of the moving train passed completely over and through

420-491: The main line track . In the early morning hours of June 22, 1918, engineer Alonzo Sargent was at the throttle of a Michigan Central (then a subsidiary of the New York Central Railroad ) troop train pulled by MC/NYC class K80r 4-6-2 "Pacific" number 8485, pulling twenty empty Pullman cars . Sargent, who was aware that his train was closely following a slower circus train, had slept little if at all in

462-708: The 1970s generally have single heads appointed by the President and are divisions inside executive Cabinet Departments (e.g., the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (1970) or the Transportation Security Administration (2002)). The trend is the same at the state level, though it is probably less pronounced. The Interstate Commerce Commission had a strong influence on the founders of Australia. The Constitution of Australia provides ( §§ 101-104 ; also § 73 ) for

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504-732: The African-American porters on the train, until further investigations revealed that they had been severely burned. Among the dead were Arthur Dierckx and Max Nietzborn of the Great Dierckx Brothers, a strongman act, and Jennie Ward Todd of The Flying Wards. There were also 127 injuries. Five days later, fifty-three of those killed were buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, at the intersection of Cermak Road and Des Plaines Avenue in Forest Park, Illinois , in

546-473: The Hagenbeck–Wallace Circus used old wooden cars that were lit with oil lamps . The circus train had two train segments; the segment that was loaded with animals had been dispatched earlier, leaving the train with all the performers and workers on the tracks. The cars were being moved to a spot near Hammond , Indiana , so a mechanical problem could be addressed, and some of the cars had been left on

588-928: The ICC included the Federal Trade Commission (1914), the Federal Communications Commission (1934), the Securities and Exchange Commission (1934), the National Labor Relations Board (1935), the Civil Aeronautics Board (1940), Postal Regulatory Commission (1970) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (1975). In recent decades, this regulatory structure of independent federal agencies has gone out of fashion. The agencies created after

630-572: The ICC set rates fairly. In 1934, Congress transferred the telecommunications authority to the new Federal Communications Commission . In 1935, Congress passed the Motor Carrier Act, which extended ICC authority to regulate interstate bus lines and trucking as common carriers. The Transportation Act of 1920 directed the Interstate Commerce Commission to prepare and adopt a plan for the consolidation of

672-698: The ICC's chief clerk that Boynton was virtually a daily visitor at ICC offices, seeking Commission adoption of his proposal to revolutionize the railroad industry. Congress passed various deregulation measures in the 1970s and early 1980s which diminished ICC authority, including the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 ("4R Act"), the Motor Carrier Act of 1980 and the Staggers Rail Act of 1980. Senator Fred R. Harris of Oklahoma strongly advocated

714-644: The OMC became the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), within the U.S. Department of Transportation . Prior to its abolition, the ICC gave identification numbers to motor carriers for which it issued licenses. The identification numbers were generally in the form of "ICC MC-000000". When the ICC was dissolved, the function of licensing interstate motor carriers was transferred to FMCSA. All interstate motor carriers that transport freight moving across state lines have

756-650: The abolition of the Commission. In December 1995, when most of the ICC's powers had been eliminated or repealed, Congress finally abolished the agency with the ICC Termination Act of 1995 . Final Chair Gail McDonald oversaw transferring its remaining functions to a new agency, the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB), which reviews mergers and acquisitions, rail line abandonments and railroad corporate filings. ICC jurisdiction on rail safety (hours of service rules, equipment and inspection standards)

798-417: The acts. 41°35′54″N 87°25′17″W  /  41.59833°N 87.42139°W  / 41.59833; -87.42139 Train wreck A train accident or train wreck is a type of disaster involving two or more trains . Train wrecks often occur as a result of miscommunication , as when a moving train meets another train on the same track, when the wheels of train come off the track or when

840-475: The commission's powers through subsequent legislation. The 1893 Railroad Safety Appliance Act gave the ICC jurisdiction over railroad safety, removing this authority from the states, and this was followed with amendments in 1903 and 1910. The Hepburn Act of 1906 authorized the ICC to set maximum railroad rates, and extended the agency's authority to cover bridges, terminals, ferries, sleeping cars, express companies and oil pipelines. A long-standing controversy

882-439: The doctors themselves), the seven Interstate Commerce Commissioners and their staffs were full-time regulators who could have no economic ties to the industries they regulated. Since 1887, some state and other federal agencies adopted this structure. And, like the ICC, later agencies tended to be organized as multi-headed independent commissions with staggered terms for the commissioners. At the federal level, agencies patterned after

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924-499: The fire chief, and then phoned all the medical personnel he could. Triage for the victims was performed at the Michigan Central station in Hammond; then they were sent to St. Margaret's Hospital. Most of the eighty-six who were killed in the train wreck perished in the first thirty-five seconds after the collision. Then, the wreckage caught on fire. The fire was so intense that many of the victims were assumed to be some of

966-551: The first chairman of the ICC. Cooley had been Dean of the University of Michigan Law School and Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court . The Commission had a troubled start because the law that created it failed to give it adequate enforcement powers. The Commission is, or can be made, of great use to the railroads. It satisfies the popular clamor for a government supervision of the railroads, while at

1008-489: The industry and prevent competition, constituting regulatory capture . Economist David D. Friedman argues that the ICC always served the railroads as a cartelizing agent and used its authority over other forms of transportation to prevent them, where possible, from undercutting the railroads. In March 1920, the ICC had Eben Moody Boynton, the inventor of the Boynton Bicycle Railroad , committed as

1050-414: The location belong to people who traveled with the circus and wanted to be buried there after they died. The wreck is described in great detail in the report of the joint Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) and Indiana Public Service Commission following an investigation. Sargent, who was under arrest, refused to testify at any of the hearings on advice of his counsel. In his report of the accident to

1092-898: The next morning. Leaving Kalamazoo, followed freight train to Michigan City yard and stopped at signal near Center Street. Got proceed signal from some one on ground, pulled up to Michigan City, stopped at standpipe and took water. While following this freight train, we stopped first between Dowagiac and Pokagon on account signal at danger. Stopped again at Pokagon and Niles for same reason, this freight train being ahead. Leaving Michigan City, had clear track to East Gary and there caught block of train ahead, reduced speed, but did not have to stop, as block cleared before I reached it. Reduced speed going through Gary to comply with rules, and saw no more signals at caution or danger until approaching curve east of Ivanhoe, where I found second signal east of wreck at caution. Was going about 25 miles per hour at this point, but did not reduce speed, as I expected that

1134-406: The next signal would probably clear before I got to it, or that I would see it, if at danger, in time to stop. The wind was blowing very hard into cab on my side and I closed the window, which made the inside of cab more comfortable. Before reaching the next signal I dozed on account of heat in cab and missed it. Not realizing what had happened to me until within 75 to 90 feet, I awoke suddenly and saw

1176-577: The officials of the railroad company, he made the following statement: I was called shortly after 8 p.m. June 21, for deadhead equipment west, engine 8485, for 10.15 p.m., and left Kalamazoo, Michigan at 10.35 p.m. Had been up since 5 a.m., June 21, dead heading from my home in Jackson on Train No. 41, and had had little or no sleep during the day. Had had a couple of heavy meals before going out, realizing that I would not get anything more to eat until some time

1218-596: The plan under the topic "In the Matter of Consolidation of the Railways of the United States into a Limited Number of Systems". The proposed 21 regional railroads were as follows: There were 100 terminal railroads that were also proposed. Below is a sample: Many small railroads failed during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Of those lines that survived, the stronger ones were not interested in supporting

1260-409: The preceding twenty-four hours. The effects of a lack of sleep, several heavy meals, some kidney pills, and the gentle rolling of his locomotive are thought to have caused him to fall asleep at the controls. At approximately 4 a.m., Sargent missed at least two automatic signals and warnings posted by a brakeman of the 26-car circus train, which had made an emergency stop to check a hot box on one of

1302-493: The railway properties of the United States into a limited number of systems. Between 1920 and 1923, William Z. Ripley , a professor of political economy at Harvard University, wrote up ICC's plan for the regional consolidation of the U.S. railways. His plan became known as the Ripley Plan . In 1929 the ICC published Ripley's Plan under the title Complete Plan of Consolidation . Numerous hearings were held by ICC regarding

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1344-429: The same time that supervision is almost entirely nominal. Following the passage of the 1887 act, the ICC proceeded to set maximum shipping rates for railroads. However, in the late 1890s, several railroads challenged the agency's ratemaking authority in litigation , and the courts severely limited the ICC's powers. The ICC became the United States' investigation agency for railroad accidents. Congress expanded

1386-496: The service of a doctor. There was nothing defective about the air brakes or other mechanism of the engine or train that I was operating, nor was there any defective condition of any of the signals or track upon which I was operating to the best of my knowledge. The accident was due solely to the fact that I accidentally fell asleep, and I had no intent to injure any person, nor was same done with malice, but solely through an accident, as aforesaid. The ICC report concluded, "This accident

1428-408: The tail or marker lights showing red on a train directly ahead of me. Not realizing that the rear end of this train was so close. I started to make a service application, but before completing it placed brake-valve handle into emergency position. We struck almost instantly after making the brake application. Don't know whether I closed the throttle or not, but think I did. Looked to see where the fireman

1470-409: The value of railroad property. This information would be used to set rates. The Esch-Cummins Act of 1920 expanded the ICC's rate-setting responsibilities, and the agency in turn required updated valuation data from the railroads. The enlarged process led to a major increase in ICC staff, and the valuations continued for almost 20 years. The valuation process turned out to be of limited use in helping

1512-653: The weaker ones. Congress repudiated Ripley's Plan with the Transportation Act of 1940, and the consolidation idea was scrapped. Although racial discrimination was never a major focus of its efforts, the ICC had to address civil rights issues when passengers filed complaints. The limitation on railroad rates in 1906-07 depreciated the value of railroad securities, a factor in causing the panic of 1907 . Some economists and historians, such as Milton Friedman assert that existing railroad interests took advantage of ICC regulations to strengthen their control of

1554-412: The widespread practice of granting free transportation in the form of yearly passes to opinion leaders (elected officials, newspaper editors, ministers, and so on) so as to dampen any opposition to railroad practices. Various sections of the Interstate Commerce Act banned "personal discrimination" and required shipping rates to be "just and reasonable." President Cleveland appointed Thomas M. Cooley as

1596-456: The wreck. The engine left the rails but did not overturn.” Upon impact, the circus train's lamps ignited the wooden cars and the fire quickly spread. Two men were stationed at the Ivanhoe signal tower , about 100 feet (30 m) from the accident, and phoned multiple people in an attempt to raise help for the victims. The first on the scene was the mayor of nearby Gary, Indiana , who brought

1638-666: Was and saw he was running toward the gangway. Did not see a fusee , hear a torpedo , or see any other warning signal up to the time I saw the red tail lights. Wreck happened at about 4.05 a.m., June 22, and I stayed there for an hour or more assisting in getting people out of the wreckage. I have been in the service of the Michigan Central Railroad Co. for approximately 28 or 29 years, the last 16 of which I have been continuously employed as an engineer. I am in perfect physical condition, as well as mental condition, and have had no illness within 25 or 30 years requiring

1680-509: Was caused by Engine-man Sargent being asleep, and from this cause, failing to observe the stop indication of automatic signal 2581, and the warnings of the flagman of the circus train, and to be governed by them." The report was also critical of the older wooden cars, whose oil lamps ignited the fire immediately after the collision. Although Sargent and his fireman , Gustave Klauss, were criminally charged in Lake County, Indiana , following

1722-477: Was how to interpret language in the Act that banned long haul-short haul fare discrimination. The Mann-Elkins Act of 1910 addressed this question by strengthening ICC authority over railroad rates. This amendment also expanded the ICC's jurisdiction to include regulation of telephone , telegraph and wireless companies. The Valuation Act of 1913 required the ICC to organize a Bureau of Valuation that would assess

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1764-768: Was transferred to the Federal Railroad Administration pursuant to the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970. Before the ICC was abolished motor carriers (bus lines, trucking companies) had safety regulations enforced by the Office of Motor Carriers (OMC) under the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The OMC inherited many of the "Economic" regulations enforced by the ICC in addition to the safety regulations imposed on motor carriers. In January 2000

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